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How to Get on Your Favorite TV Game Shows

Go from simply watching to competing on television’s most famous game showsFor most people, TV game shows are nothing more than a spectator sport. But if you have ever wanted to make the transition from your living room to the television studio for a shot at fortune and (temporary) fame, all it takes is a little perseverance. Here is how to land yourself on three of America’s favorite TV game shows.

The Price Is Right
The longest-running game show on television, “The Price Is Right,” has now been entertaining retirees and children staying home sick from school for decades. For a shot at winning a brand new car, you will need to first be a part of the studio audience. You can obtain tickets to future tapings online at http://on-camera-audiences.com/show/The_Price_is_Right. Episodes are taped at the Bob Barker Studio in Los Angeles at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m., but you will have to arrive hours earlier so that the producers can pick contestants before the show starts.

To be selected for the show, you will want to be overly enthusiastic. If you are a fan, you might have noticed that many of the audience members who are chosen are often young, in college, in the military and/or wearing specially made t-shirts that make reference to “The Price Is Right” or host Drew Carey. But the best thing you can do is answer all of the producers’ questions with tons of excitement, then take your seat and hope to hear announcer George Gray ask you to “come on down!”

Jeopardy!Known for its often difficult and obscure trivia questions, “Jeopardy!” belongs to the Ivy League of game shows. Getting accepted, as you might expect, can prove to be rather challenging. Aside from the special celebrity episodes, there are four types of “Jeopardy!” tournaments: kids (children between the ages of 10 and 12 years old), teens (13 to 17 years old), college (full-time students with no four-year degrees), and the standard version, for adults over 18 years of age.

The first step is taking the online test, which consists of 50 questions (30 for kids) that must be answered in 15 seconds each. The tests are offered at different times, so you’ll want to sign up for the newsletter at http://www.jeopardy.com/registration/ to be notified the next time one is available. You are only allowed to take the test once a year, so watch and study each episode and remember to take the practice test at http://www.jeopardy.com/beacontestant/contestantsearches/practicetest/. If you pass, you will be invited to an audition. If you pass that, you will be put into their files for 18 months, but you still have no guarantee of being chosen during that 18-month period.

Wheel of Fortune
Getting on “Wheel of Fortune” is similar to getting on to “The Price Is Right,” in that it’s all about personality. The difference is, for “Wheel,” you don’t have to turn on the charm “live and in person.” Instead, contestants are asked to record a brief video (under a minute in length) in which they explain who they are, why they’d like to be the show and something interesting about themselves.

Although you don’t need to appear over the top like a “The Price Is Right” contestant, try to smile and be enthusiastic in your video, and record it somewhere you can speak loudly and clearly (not your cubicle). Upload your video to https://www.wheeloffortune.com/be-a-contestant and fill out a brief form and questionnaire, then cross your fingers and hope to meet Pat and Vanna.

Getting on a game show is only half the battle, however. Remember, once you make it onto the show, the pressure is on: you still have to beat out your opponents in front of a live studio audience to take home the grand prize. Good luck!

Used with Permission. Published by IMN Bank Adviser Includes copyrighted material of IMakeNews, Inc. and its suppliers.